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Weight Watchers

Share experiences, tips and results from following Weight Watchers. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

New Flexers over here please.

507 replies

Paperdolly · 14/01/2018 21:41

Hi all.

Any one else new or newish to the new Flex program in the new year and wanting it to form a new you?

Let's support each other eh? Tell me how you're doing.

OP posts:
FitBitFanClub · 29/01/2018 12:23

Hi all.
I've lost 2st4lbs since the end of August and feeling (and looking) dramatically better.
BUT ... I feel as if I'm rolling to a halt, as I only lost 1/2lb this week. I have around another stone to go.
I've made my weekly Fit point target 63, and I'm just about making that but what do other people do about the fact that the fit bit will double count points? So, for instance, I just did an aerobics work out which is about 4 points for me, but my Fitbit has also logged 3000 steps for it. Would you dis-count those when logging them on the app later?

Dreamslongforgotten75 · 29/01/2018 12:28

Anyone got ideas for a free dinner? Had a fruit breakfast but used 11 for lunch. Thinking if my dinner is healthy I can use some points on a snack. Flex is really making me think about my food choices. Loving it so far for that reason alone.

WeirdCatLady · 29/01/2018 12:44

I don’t know if I’m overeating the free foods, I thought the whole idea was to get me to switch to those? I’m 21stone and have lost just 11lbs so far, and nothing the past two weeks. I’ll stick at it (got to as I’ve signed up for three months 😂)

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 29/01/2018 13:28

I'm quite pleased as lost 4lbs in my second week. I used a lot of my fit points which I was worried about but it still worked and stopped me going totally off the rails as have 3 very little ones and walk a lot so am starving at about 4 and need something more than a banana

I want to lose about another 4 stone 😯. Have decided this needs to be a way of life now really so need to not get too hung up if I stall or only have small loses from now on as nerd to plod on with something sustainable

sez49 · 29/01/2018 16:04

WeirdCatLady. I know it must be frustrating so early on, but some weeks I lose very little, or gain and others I get a big loss. There is little reason, apart from water retention etc, as I tend to use a similar amount of points each week. The plan is designed to lose at a healthy rate of 0.5-2lbs a week. When I last re-joined I was faced with the prospect of needing to lose over 12st. It was much easier for me to lose weight when I was younger than it is now. I definitely think changing hormones play their part in it being a slower now.

This time around, I have accepted that this is a lifestyle change rather than a quick fix ‘diet’, so I need it to work for me in the long term, once I finally reach goal.

11lbs lost over 4 weeks is a great start, as frustrating as the last two weeks have been for you. I didn’t lose that much in my first couple of weeks and was heavier than you are. I too would love the weight to drop off as I had so much to lose. Everyone’s different and will lose at different rates.

It is difficult to say if you are overeating on zero foods or not. Yes they are there to encourage us to make more healthier choices. I know someone who was eating loads of fruit everyday and started losing when she reduced the amount of fruit. She still had a few portions of fruit daily but not anywhere near the amount she used to have.

If you are eating until you are satisfied, rather than stuffed, if you are drinking plenty of water and using most of your points, I would say stick with it. Hopefully you will see the scales move more over the next couple of weeks. Don’t get disheartened. Whilst it is a long road ahead, focus on small interim goals, rather than the end goal.

Champagnecharleyismyname · 29/01/2018 18:51

Gutted, had my first weigh in today and I've gained 0.5lb. Not much I know but so disappointed as I thought I'd really followed the plan.

What are common mistakes do you think?

WeirdCatLady · 29/01/2018 19:53

Yeah, thanks guys, I think I must be overeating free stuff (probably all the egg related lunches) so I’ve decided to point all of my proteiny type stuff, so eggs, tuna, chicken and turkey. Still going to keep my salad fruit and veg free as otherwise I just know I won’t eat any. Will see how the next week goes.

Sorry you put on Champagne x do you think you’re maybe eating too many free things?

Champagnecharleyismyname · 29/01/2018 20:01

I had a look at my tracking and think maybe portion sizes and things like milk in coffee.

I suppose now I am going through the menopause that i need to be a lot more mindful. Not so easy now.

FitBitFanClub · 29/01/2018 20:16

It's interesting - I only lost a half pound this week and when I pulled a fed-up face, my leader said to make sure I wasn't over-doing the zero point stuff. I wonder if there's a trend showing with this new system that didn't show during the trials. It's why I failed abysmally at Slimming World a few years back - put on weight due to mis-calculating what I could get away with.

sez49 · 29/01/2018 21:30

Champagne make sure you are tracking everything including your milk. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. Are you eating all/most of your points? I am definitely find it harder to lose approaching the menopause.

Has anyone started exercising in the last few weeks, or increased their exercise, but not seeing the results on the scales?

During my 18/19 months I have been following WW, I have had a few plateaus where I have lost little/no weight/gained weight over several weeks. Every single one of these plateaus has coincided with me increasing my exercise/adding new exercise into my routine. One of these occasions I got into smaller trousers, so whilst the scales were showing gains, my body shape was improving.

It is definitely worth measuring yourselves. Sometimes we don’t see the scales move much, but we are losing inches. At the end of the day, whilst I want to see the scales move, I am just as happy getting into smaller sized clothes.

The only other thing I can say is to try to look at your results on the scales over a month, rather than focusing on each week’s results.

Champagnecharleyismyname · 29/01/2018 22:05

Well looking on the bright side I definitely feel a whole lot better for eating some good food just obviously a little too much of it.

I will now point everything and be much more mindful of portion sizes.

Still gutted, why couldn't it have been half a point the other way.

HoosierDaddy · 30/01/2018 07:49

My (totally unqualified) feeling is that it could be too easy to ignore the vegetable part of the plan. EG I'd find a lot of egg would be too stodgy for me, yet a lot of people at my group seem to live on 3-egg omelettes.Yesterday I ate below my points, but my dinner was potato and corn... not a green to be seen! I wonder if the will have to rejig it to recommend X% of your plate should be non-starchy veg.

Dreamslongforgotten75 · 30/01/2018 12:18

It’s interesting about the free food and the potential to over eat them. I am averaging 3 pieces of fruit a day and pointing my lunch fully. My dinner usually consists of one portion of free protein and veg with a carb ( that’s pointed). One snack a day and that’s it really. Lots of water and 1-2 cups of tea a day. I’m consciously not weighing in every week as I’ve a tendency to give up if I don’t see any weight loss. Hoping in 6 months time I’ll see a big difference!

MamOfTwo · 30/01/2018 17:44

First weigh-in tomorrow, gulp! Think I have followed correctly although seem to have gone over my daily points (not by many) on a few days and needed my weeklies. Don't remember needing to do that last time I was a WW member. Also have been surprised at points of some things eg Activia fat free are 3 points and most packs crisps are also 3 points. Wonder if they have changed it so focus is now on less sugar?

NinaMarieP · 30/01/2018 18:04

Pickled onion Space Raiders are only 2 points!

I lost 2lb this week so I'm happy. Still don't know how anyone can survive on 23 points though, anything that's a carb is so high in points. There's only so much fruit and veg you can eat!

Chardonnay73 · 30/01/2018 18:12

I hate flex. There. I've said it. Lost 3 stone last year on 30 points a day and feel like my choices have been taken away from me. Angry
If I wanted free food I'd do SW.
Don't like it AT ALL.
Can't even use the old system as it cocks my dailies and weeklies up. Wish they'd give you a choice as to what plan you want to follow...

FitBitFanClub · 30/01/2018 18:18

sez49 I don't know, but I REALLY hope you're wrong! Grin I've upped my exercise (although not really hard-core - just more daily steps, harder aerobics routine, weekly badminton, exercise bike) to 63+ Fit points a week in the last 2 or 3 weeks or so, and have only lost between 1/2 to 1lb each week.

greenbeansqueen · 31/01/2018 10:39

Just started, day three here and it's making me more aware of what I eat already which is good. i was surprised to see that Eggs, chicken and fish are no points as I can easily make a meal out of those with some veg. I can see how someone can have too many "no points' foods if they eat 5 eggs a day! But I'm using lots of the no points veg and they fill me up pretty quickly.

MamOfTwo · 31/01/2018 12:09

First weigh-in - 6lbs off, many more to go! I did track everything. First week of a diet is never a problem for me, it's all the weeks ahead Grin Away this weekend so could be a different story next weigh-in!

Think it has been discussed upthread but still a bit confused as to how FitPoints work?

HoosierDaddy · 31/01/2018 18:01

Well done Mam that is brilliant.
Can't really help with your query, I don't use fit points as I don't earn any but I got a booklet in group, on week 2 or 3, explaining it. You can earn extra points by exercising, but you don't have to use them. Our leader recommends not getting into habit of exercising in order to eat more, which makes sense!

sez49 · 01/02/2018 08:49

FitBitFanClub - I’m not an expert by any means but can only speak from my experiences and those I have seen of others not losing when they increase their activity. I do find that once things start moving again, I usually then get a big loss.

www.coachcalorie.com/working-out-but-gaining-weight/

health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/12/just-started-exercising-gaining-weight/

sez49 · 01/02/2018 08:59

MamofTwo what is it you are confused about regarding fitpoints?

Whilst WW don’t recommend that you use them, you can if you want to. Some lose better when using some and others don’t - everyone is different. If you want to possibly use them, you need to alter Swapping under your Food Settings. You can either use them before your weeklies, or after your weeklies have been used up.

You are unable to consume the first few FitPoints you earn each day - this amount will vary from person to person, but is roughly the amount of FitPoints you earn for 3,000 steps (usually 3 or 4 for most people). So if you earn 12 fitpoints one day, you might find you are only able to consume 8 or 9 of them.

The amount of FitPoints earned varies from person to person, depending on height, weight, etc. And as you lose weight you may well see the amount of FitPoints you earn reduce for the same amount of activity. It has encouraged me to increase my activity to keep earning a similar amount of FitPoints.

Your weekly FitPoints target can be adjusted manually, in settings, to whatever you want, if you don’t want to use the target set by WW.

NinaMarieP · 01/02/2018 09:29

I eat some of my fitpoints but not my weeklies. That way if I have a lazy week I don't have many fitpoints to spend and I eat accordingly. Or if I'm really active I can treat myself, rather than having 40odd points extra no matter what.

sez49 · 01/02/2018 11:00

I have seen a few people who prefer to do that. I eat mine after my weeklies - I do use lots of my fitpoints every week. I am pretty consistent with the amount I earn and try to eat a similar amount each week too.

BanyanTree · 01/02/2018 12:53

I've done WW's a few times and every time I re-register it has changed it's format. I think last year it was smart points which I got along with well. Now it's flex points. I haven't read the instructions so can't moan that I don't know what is going on yet. I have struggled to use the points too. I couldn't believe that salmon, chicken and king prawns are free. I am trying to stick to one portion of chicken or salmon a day. Still can't believe my fave food, avocado, is still points loaded.

As for exercise, I find that my weight goes down quicker when I DON'T exercise, but I don't follow this. When I exercise and do WW's I aim for 5x1hour sessions a week including cardio and weights. I usually stay within my points and lose 1 - 1.5 lbs a week. This doesn't sound much but over 3 months that is a stone and a bit. I lose weight and size, but also build and tone muscle which is 4 x weight of fat.

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